Improvement in ice-machines



` i 3Sheets-Sheet2. H. NORMAN Gr. C. F. DIETRICH.

IcG-M'achinsl No.135,576. Y PatemdFebAJas,

WITNESSES. INVENTUFLS.

AM. PHora-umosRAPH/cco.MdosBoRNA-pnacsss) HENRY NORMAN AND CHARLES F.

ATENT FFICE.

DIETRICH, or NEW ORLEANS, LA.

IMPROVEMENT INA ICE-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,576, dated February 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY NORMAN and CHARLES F. DIETRICH, ot' New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ot Louisiana, have invented an Improved Refri geratin g Apparatus for Animal, Vegetable, and Liquid Substances, of which the-following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, of the water-supply pump. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, ot' the aircolnpressing engine. Fig. 3 isa front elevation, partly in section, of the air-drying apparatus. Fig. 4i is a top-plan view of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partly in section, ofthe cooler. Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the reservoir. Fig. 7 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the combined air-pressure regulator and air-discharging device. Fig. 8 is a top-plan view of Figs. 5, (5, and 7. Fig. 9 is a front elevation, partly in section, ot' the refrigerator. Fig. ll) is a top-plan view of the refrigerator.

The 11a-ture of our invention consists in so constructing the drier that contains the oxide or chloride of calcium that it can be rendered perfectly air-tight, and so arranged that the compressed air to be dried shall enter at its base and be forced to pass up through the calcium, so permeating the same in its passage and before it is discharged from the drier as to be entirely freed from all dampness and moisture. Uur drier consists ot' three cylindersan outer j ticket-cylinder and two interior cylinders, the latter being ot' such diameters that one shall tit snugly in the other, while the relativedimensions ot' the inner cylinders and the outer cylinder shall be such that when the interior cylinders are in position between the outer and intermediate one there shall be left a narrow annular passage, the upper section ot' which is closed and all egress ofthe air through the same prevented by the tlan ged bearings of the intermediate cylinders. The base-plates' ofthe intermediate cylinders are perforated in such manner that when the one is inserted in the other their perfor-ations shall register. These perforations communicate directly with Athe air-chamber at the base of the outer cylinder, and into which the compressed air is introd uced. rlhe inner cylinder is filled with calcium, and the compressed air enters through the perforations and arises up through the material to the dome ot' the drier.. and in which passa-ge all particles of humidity which the compressed air may have contained are abr sorbed. From the dome the air is conveyed to a cooler, and thence to the reservoir. Our invention also consists in a novel arrangement of the air-pressure receptacle or regulator, and from which the air which supplies the refrigerator is fed. This discharge or feeder is airtight, and is to be so surrounded by a jacketcylinder as to permit ot' its being inca-sed with some suitable non-coiulucting material, as is also the tube which conveys the compressed, dried, and refrigerated air from the reservoir to its discharge-chamber. This air-tube enters the discharge pressure-chamber at the base thereof, and protrndes some distance above the same so as to furnish, as it were, a neckseat for a sleeve-valve. This sleeve-valve is connected, by a forked arm, with a piston-rod, and to which is secured a piston and weightcup. These are rela-tively so arranged that whenin their normal condition the valve-sleeve shall be held or rest at such position on the neck ot the inlet-pipe as to leave its dischargeoritices open and entirely unobstructed 5; and, of course, through the weight-cup, the degree of pressure that the piston will resist without being elevated can be regulated at pleasure;

but the instant the pressure exceeds the given.

or desired quantity the piston is set to resist, the same is elevated, carrying with it the pistonrod, and so drawing up the sleeve-valve as to close the discharge-oritices of the tube, and thus, for the time, eil'ectually cut oi' all further ingress ot' air from the reservoir; but the moment the refrigerator has exhausted the air from the chamber, so as to reduce the pressnre to the desired point, the piston automatically drops, and, carrying with it the valve-sleeve, opens again the inlet-oriices ofthe tube.- Thus it will be seen that the action of the valve is controlled and graduated by the action of the pressure ot the air on the piston.

The supply-pump and air-engine which We propose to use, and which are hereinafter deative.

2 naaste scribed, we have not mentioned in the above recital, although they are believed to be new and uset'ul, as we desire to make each the. distinctive subject-matter ot' independent applications.

The construction and operation ot' our invention are as follows: A is the main drivingshat't, and through which motion is comuninieated to the operating mechanism ofthe apparatus. \Vhen driven through an endless belt the belt is secured ovel' the pulley H4. 'lhis shalt A isjournaled in suitable bearings (L a., as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. A1, A1, and B are crank-shafts, and drive,respectively tlejoint-ed piston-rod 132 U1 ot' the air engine and pump. The piston-rod G1 is not connect- 'ed directly with the crank-shaft or eccentric l, but is secured to a wrist-pin, D, attached to acrank, E, whose bearing-bolt c is secured in the slotted face. b ot the crank-shaft, and is t'astened and held at any desired point therein by means ot'ajam-nut, c. This means ot' :uli-ustment permits the stroke ot' the pistonrod G1 being regulated at pleasure. U is the chamber ot' the pump, and iu it works the pistou c attached to the rod C1, and operates in the usual manner. The chamber U is con- 'nected with the valvechests lll lll by means ot' connecting-pil)es F F entering the chamber (l at such relative positions that, while the connection with the. pipe F Ashall be always above the stroke ot'the piston c, the other pipe Fl enters the chamber at such section thereot' as always to be below the stroke ot' the same, 'and which insures always a supply Ot' water tothe chamber U through one or the other ot the pipes F and F1, anl from their respective valve-chests. The valve-chests B1 B1 are connected with an ordinary suction-pipe, O, by means ot short lateral pipes o o. In cach valve-chest, and -at their upper sections, are arranged automatically-acting pressurevalvesll and lil, and also in each chest are suction-valves It It. rhese latter are provided 'with valve-stems, and are so arranged as to Y vbeV controlled, when desired, by thumb-screws c1 c1, so by turning one of the screws c1 the valve/H7111 connection with which it operates, can be so driven out ot' its sea-t as to be kept permanently open, and consequently inoperlo illustrate the action ot the pump, as the arrangement ot' the chests'll Bl and valves Il lll and /t ll. are mere dnplications ot' each other, we will describe its operation in conits seat, and which renders it inoperative, and 'the other thumb-screw c1 is in such position as to leave the valve lt tree to act.. Power' is now appliedto the piston-rod C1, and the water isdrawu by lsuction through the upper lateralpipe 0 into the valve-chest B1, and the vpressure lifts thevalve la', and the water passes through the saule, und by means of the Apipe F into the chamber C. `Now, as the piston o is elevated, the water-,is forced back into the chest, its weight or pressure closing 111e valve L and openiig the valve H, and allowing of its-passage or of its being dischargJd into the pipe (lr.

As described, the pump is of coursey asingleacting pump, and it is made adouble-acting pump by leaving the valves h h bot-h free t0 act, and which is done by screwing the thumb-v screwsxout so as to be entirely freeI from all contact with the stems ot' the valves h t; or, on the other hand, the pump is rendered inoperative simply by turning both screws in so as'to lift the. valves h It. The water thus elevated and discharged is conveyed from one or both ot the valve-chests B1 B1, as the case may be, by lateral pipes G G1, into a. discharge-tube, 112, and which is closed at. its upper section by au ordinary air-chamber, I. This tube extends to the base ot' the cooler, Fig. 5, and discharges its contents in and around the coil` secured therein.'

ln Fig. 2 is shown the air-engine or compression-pump with which we propose t'o compress the air and thence supply the same toA our improved drier, Fig. o. consists ot' three cylinders, B2 and M M.

This air-engine The .cylinders M M are connected with thecylinjointed rod B, and acts in the chamber or cylinder B2 on the well-known principle ofthe Ordinary pump. To the upper section ot' the cylinder B2 lnay be attached slotted upright guides, and which will aid to insure the proper and direct action ot' thejointed piston-rod Bi. These cylinders are all seated on suitable bearings. [n the heads or lids ot' the cylinders M M are placed the inward-opening suction-valves D1 1),and which are counterbalanced by the rods c1 c1 and weights b1 b1. These cylinders M M are connected with tube. S, and which is provided with three valves, l d1 (Il. The valve l closes its discharge oritice, and the valves d1 d1 its connections with the cylinders lll M. Each valve is rendered perfectly. air-tight by means ot' a lid and clamp, S. The upper section ot' this tube S is connected with the tube c2, which conveys thecompressed air to the drying apparatus, Fig. 3.

The operation ot' this Iair-engine or compres sion-pump is as follows: By any convenient means the cylinder B2 is tilled with water both above and below its piston b2, and the pistou is then elevated to its highest point, which drives the water through the, pipe m into the cylinder M, partially lilling the. same. The rvalve. Dl is then opened. and, through any convenient means, the cylinder M is completely filled with water. 'lhe downa'ard stroke ot' the piston L2 then, through the pipe m', partially fills the cylinder M', which is then, also through its valve`D,also'completely tilled with water. Now,the next downward stroke ofthe piston necessarily lowers the column of water in the cylinder M, the water flowing through the pipe fm into the chamber B5. This leaves a vacuum in the cylinder M above its water-column, and which vacuum opens the valve Bl, and the air rushes inand fills the cylinder; and as the piston b2 again rises, so does the ratercolunm in the cylinder M, and which, through the pressure ot' the air, closes the valve D1, and the same. pressure opens the valve d1, allowing the compressed air to escape into the tube `S and elevate the valve d, and thence-to pass by the pipe c2 to the drier. The cylinder M has its water-column elevated and lowered through the action of the piston precisely as does the cylinder M, although they are acted 0.11 alternately, as the stroke ot' the piston b2 which elevates the column of water in one cylinder depresses it in the other, and vice versa. The air thus compressed by hydraulic pressure is, ot' course, moist and damp, and,to prevent its freezing before the completion ot' its action as a ret'ri geratinga gent, should be dried. Therefore the pipe c2 which receivesthe air from the compressing apparatus is made to discharge the same at the base ot' the drier. This apparatus is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, and consists ot' an outer cylinder, A2, having a removable dome-shaped top, A5, anda convex base, A4. This cylinder A2 is to be perfectly air-tight when in operation, and has arranged in its dome an, ordinary safety-valve,

G2, and an air-discharge nozzle, H3, and to which is attached the pipe H5 that conveys the dried compressed air to the cooler, while through the convex bottom ot' this cylinder A2 enters and is secured in an air-tight bearing the pipcc2 that conveys the air from the compressing apparatus. The neck ot' this pipe or tube El projectssome distance above its bearing, and is provided with adetiectiug-cap, F2, so arranged that, while it- ]eaves a free inlet for the air, prevents the escape ot' all moisture or particles ot' the drying material through the tube El to the pipe c2. Within this chamber -A2 are secured two interior cylinders, A5 and B4, and which last are to be ot' such diameters that one will lit closely in the other, while the. Arelative dimensions ot' the cylinders Az'and A5 are to be such that when the cylinder A5 is inserted there shall be let't a narrow annular passage, a?, between the. cylinders, but which passage a2 is closed at its upper section, so as to eft'ectually prevent the escape ot' air by means ot' the iiauged bearings b3 b3 ot' the interior cylinders. The base-plate ot' each ot' these interior cylinders A5 and B* are perf'orated, and in such manner that when the: cylinder 154 is inserted in the cylinder A5 these perforations sllall register. The inner cylinder B4 is to be constructed ot' either .le-ad, gattapercha, or other non-corrosive material, and is to be lilled with either dry oxide ot' calciunr or dried chloride ot' calcium. vThus, it will be seen that the air that enters through the pipe in order to reach thedome of the cylinder A2 is compelled to pass through the perfora-tions in the base of the cylinders A5 B4, andto ascend through themass of calcium. N ow,in this ascent, it entirely permeates 'the mass, and which permeatiou deprives the air of every particle of its humidity or moisture, and causes it to enter the dome A3 ot' the .cylinder A2 in a dried state, and from which it is fed to the cooler, Fig.` 5. By' means of' the removable dome ot' the cylinder A2 ready access can be had to the interior cylinder B4 to fill the same or replace the calcium, as occasion requires. The dried compressed air is now carried by the pipe H5, which is attached to the nozzle H5 of the dome ot' the cylinder A2, Fig. 3, to the cooler, Fig. 5, and discharged and caused to pass through the coiled pipes I arranged therein, as illustrated in the drawing. This coil of pipe l is inclosed in a water box or cylinder, it, and which is supplied by the pump. Fig. l, through the pipe H2. The dimensions of this box or case are to be such that the coil through which the air passes sha-ll be completely embedded iu water. The water is iinally discharged by the pipe K, and the compressed air, at'ter being subjected to the Y cooling action of the submerged coil, is conveyed by the pipe L to the reservoir, Fig. 6,

'and enters through the dome thereof. \Vhi1e the arrangement of cooler herein described, consisting ot' a submerged coil, and which subjects the dried and compressed air, in its passage, to the action of a constantly-flowing current, produced by the pump, Fig. 1, is admirably adapted fur-the purposes designed, we desire it distinctly understood that there is nothing arbitrary about this arrangement, as the coil, when not incl-sed and exposed to the direct action otthe atmosphere, act sin a similar manner, and with nearly the same effect. The reservoir, Fig. 6, which receives the air from the cooler, Fig; 5, by means ot' the pipe L, is an air-tight vessel, and is furnished with a manometer, U2, and which measures the density ot' the air, and a faucet, C3, at its base., by which the accumulating moisture, it' there be any, may be drawn ot. The discharge-tube b4 of the reservoir communicates directly with the apparatus, Fig. 7, that supplies the dried compressed air to the refrigerator. The tube b4 is inclosed in a jacket-tube, b5, so as to permit ot' its bein g incased or surrounded by some suitable non-conducting material, and this tube may be,provided with a valve or cut-ofi' faucet, b5. This tube i b4 communicates `with a projecting tube, P, at the pbase ot' the chamber A5 ot' the air-distribnter,and whichconstitutes, as it were, a neck-valve for the sliding or traveling' sleeve-valve l", Fig. 7. The mouth of this tube is closed, but around the upper sectionof its neck are pertbrations g g, through which theair is discharged into the claunberA ofthe distributer, and which cousists of' the chamber or cylinder A6. This chamber or cylinder is surrounded by some suitable non-conducting material n, and which is incased in an outer cylinder' or jacket, N, of wood, cloth, tc. The exterior surface of' the tube or neck-valve P and the inner face of' the circular or sleeve valve P1 are ground, polished, and finished with great care, so as to insure of' the one working in the other with the greatest nicety. 'To this sleeve-valve P1 is secured the forked arm c3, and to which the piston-rod c4 is attached, and to which is secured the piston d2 and the weight-cup D2. This piston-rod, of course, is so arranged as to work in a stuffingbox, and which is to be perfectly air-tight. This chamber A6 is also provided with a thermometer, E2, which indicates the degree of temperature in the cylinder. The air is discharged and fed to the refrigerator, Fig. 9, by means ofthe tube C3,

which is also jacketed so as to be incased with some suitable heat non-conducting material.

The operation ofl this air-distributing apparatus and regulator is readily explained. The features, as shown in Fig. 7, are all in their normal position, and the sleeve-valve P1 is at such position on the tube P as to leaveits orifices g g perfectly unobstructed for the admission and discharge of' air from the reservoir. The quantity of air that it is designed to supply to the chamber A, and thence to be Vdistributed to the refrigerator, being ascertained,

the cup D2 is weighted accordingly. The air entering will, of course, owing to its tendency to ascend, press against the piston d?, but the same remains fixed so long as the pressure does not exceed the connterbalancing pressure of the weight in the cup. But the instant the pressure is greater than is desired or the cup is set to resist, this piston d2 is elevated, and which, through the pistonrod c4 and forked arm c3, so elevates the sleevevalve P1 as to close the orifices g g, and which consequently cuts off all further admission of air, and the orifices g g ot' the inlet-valve remain closed until, through the discharge-pipe C3 leading to the refrigerator, the pressure and density of the air within the chamber are reduced to a point at or below that which the cup D2 was weighted to resist, when the piston instantly drops, and, through the pistonrod c4 and forked arm c3, so drives down the valve P1 as to leave the orifices g g again open for the admission of air. Thus it will be seen that the action of' thev sleeve-valve P1 is automatically controlled, and,through the weight-cup, piston, and piston-rod, the presslure which causes the valve to act can be graduated and regulated at pleasure. The jacketed tube C3 conveys the air from the dischargeregulator to the refrigerator, Figs. 9 and l0,

and in which thel animal or vegetable substances, Water, or other liquids which it is desired to cool or freeze, are to be placed. This refrigerator consists of the box or case G2,

vwhich may be closed by the cover H6. Within the box G2 there is introduced anotherl box, N f, in such manner as to leave anintervening space between the sides of said box N and the outer box G2, and this space, as well as that included within the double cover H6, is completely filled with some suitable non-conducting material, such as charcoal, sawdust, &c. The pipe C3 passes through the side of the box Gr2 and connects the box N with the air pressure a-nd discharging apparatus, shown in Fig. 7. At the end of the box N is shown the escape-pipe P2. Nl represents a square box or case, made of'iron, other metal, or wood, hermetically secured in, its joints by the angles c3 a3. Within this box are placed the boxes J J and the partitions l l', in such manner that they are hermetically joined to the bottom and one side of' the box N', and also to the cover H6, shown in Fig. 9. Between one side of the box l and one side of the box N avacant space is left, as shown in Fig. 9. In' the same manner a vaca-nt space is left between the partitions L L and the b )x N', but opposite the vacant spa-ce between l and lV. After hermetically fastening to the case Nl the boxes l l and the partitions L L', as above described, the whole is closed hermetically by the lid or plate lt', Fig. 9. Thus a series of.' open boxes is formed, slightly tapering toward the bottom, in which the boxes K K, made of' metal, earthenware, porcelain, Sie., are placed. The upper ends ot' the two smaller sides o f these boxes K K are provided with an opening to serve the purpose of afiixing a handle for lifting out and replacing the boxes. The boxes K K are filled with the objects or substances to be refrigerated or frozen and then covered with the lid H6. The air now rushing in through the pipe C3 is forced to pass around three sides of the boxes l l.

AIt is clearly evident that any other form ot refrigerative boxes other than those described may be substituted, and that vessels of any kind filled with liquids and placed in the box is sufficient to refrigerate such liquids to the point of freezing, provided such vessels are surrounded by the cold air generated in the above-described machine.v The air escaping through the tube P2, Figs. 9 and 10,"can be allowed to pass freely into the atmosphere, or may be made to return to the compressing apparatus, as may be desired.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

1. The drier, Fig. 3, consisting of the outer cylinder A2 and interior cylinders A5 and B4, and which latter have their bottoms perforated, as stated, tube El, and cap F2, the whole being so combined and arranged as to compel the air introduced into the outer cylinder to ascend through the drying materia-l contained in the inner cylinder B4, substantially as described.-

l 2. The air-regulator, Fig. 7, consisting of the chamber A, perforated tube P, valve P1,

piston-rod c4, piston d?. and cup D", the whole In testimony whereof we have signed our being so combined and ail-ranged as to operate names to this speciiieation in the presence of substantially usdesoribed. two subscribing witnesses. i A retrlgerutmg :apparatus consisting of HENRY NRMAN the pump., air-compressing engine, cooler, res- OHARLESF. DIETRICH. ervon', :1nd distri-buter, when the same are constructed as described, and so combined and Wltnesses:

arranged es to operate substantially as' spec- J AMES C. KIDDELL,

, iied.- i p H. N. J ENKINS.' 

